The invention relates to a robotic method for loading cases on a packaging line from cases contained in a closed parallelepiped container and wherein it is proceeded with the loading of the packaging line, after opening of the container (Ca) by: /d/ insertion of a first jaw (30) of the clamp between the first face (F1) of the container and the first case (Et1) of the row of cases and, insertion of a second jaw (31) of the clamp between the last case (Etd) of the row of cases and the second face (F2) of the container, and approach of the jaws until seizing up the row of cases, /e/ piloting of the robotic arm so as to extract the row of cases from the container grasped by the motor-driven clamp (3) and load the packaging line (Lg) with the row of cases.

The module (3) comprises a frame having vertical pillars (30A, 30B), a rotary turnover structure (4) arranged horizontally between the vertical pillars and comprising rotation shafts (400A) supported by bearings (300A) with which the vertical pillars are respectively equipped. A motor (303B) applies a first mechanical torque to one of the rotation shafts when a folding package turnover is ordered in the machine. The module also comprises additional means (5) for applying a second mechanical torque to the other rotation shaft upon a folding package turnover.

Gripping device adapted for gripping a stack of flat-folded cartons, where the gripping device comprises a first gripping jaw and a second gripping jaw arranged adjacent each other and enclosing a holding space, where the gripping device is provided with a first open state in which the distance between the gripping jaws is greater than the height of a flat-folded carton, and where the gripping device is provided with a second closed state in which the distance between the gripping jaws is less than the height of a flat-folded carton, and that the gripping device is adapted to displace one side of the stack of flat-folded cartons in a longitudinal direction, such that each flat-folded carton of the stack of flat-folded cartons will be held in an angled state by the gripping device. The advantage of the invention is that a stack of flat-folded cartons can be held in a secure way, where the height of the stack is reduced when the stack is held.

The present invention relates to a stacker module for a folder-gluer machine, the stacker module being located downstream of a transfer module in a direction of transportation of the folder-gluer machine and configured to receive folding boxes from a conveyor in the transfer module. The stacker module comprises a loading surface configured to receive a plurality of folding boxes in order to form a stack and to descend vertically as the number of folding boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector configured to eject the stack from the loading surface. A front abutment guide configured to move between an abutment and a clearing position to retain and release the stack.

A cartoning machine including a carton supply station (e.g., a rotary carton supply station, a linear carton supply station, a non-linear carton supply station, or the like) and a handling station operatively coupled to the carton supply station. The carton supply station provides, on a selective basis, cartons, such as carton blanks, pre-formed cartons, or the like. The carton supply station of the cartoning machine provides for movement of magazines with respect to a robot in the handling station that may have a distal end secured in a stationary and fixed location. As such, different magazines with dissimilar cartons may be moved to a picking location adjacent the robot, as dissimilar cartons are required. Further, the cartons within the magazines may be moved to a pre-determined pick-up location such that the robot is repeatably picking a carton from the pre-determine pick-up location.

Methods and apparatus for forming containers from container blanks are provided. An apparatus comprises a blank holding apparatus operable to releasably hold a plurality of carton blanks in a first configuration. The apparatus also has a rotary apparatus operable to rotate an engagement device along a rotational path from a first retrieval location where the engagement device is operable to engage with and retrieve a blank from the plurality of blanks held in the blank holding apparatus, to a second operational location. The apparatus also has a movement apparatus inter-connected to the rotary apparatus. The movement apparatus is operable to move the rotary apparatus and the engagement device with the engaged blank away from the blank holding apparatus, which may be translational movement away from the blank holding apparatus.

The present invention relates to a stacker module (28) for a folder-gluer machine (1). The stacker module comprises a loading surface (90) configured to receive a plurality of folding boxes and to descend vertically as the number of folding boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector (76) configured to be moved from a retracted position (RP) to an extended position (DP). The stacker further comprises an upper guide (110), configured to move between a clearing position (CP) which is vertically distant from the upper surface of the stack, and a guiding position (GP), in which the upper guide is located closer to the upper surface of the stack, and wherein the upper guide is in the guiding position when the ejector is moved from the retracted position to the evacuation position.

The invention relates to a device (1) and method for aligning blanks (2) in a magazine (3) holding a number of blanks (2), each blank (2) being a sleeve shaped piece of packaging material folded planar. The device (1) comprises a plate element (4), and a vibrating means (5) connected to said plate element (4) to vibrate said plate element (4) in relation to said magazine (3), such that said plate element (4) comes into contact with an edge of any unaligned blanks in said magazine in order to align said unaligned blanks. The invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and method for fetching a blank (2) from a magazine (3) holding a number of blanks (2).

Disclosed is a corrugated paperboard box making machine which comprises a feeding control mode setting unit for setting a feeding control mode to one of a first feeding control mode for controlling a sheet feeding apparatus and a second feeding control mode for controlling the sheet feeding apparatus such that the sheet feeding operation is performed plural times during the period of time in which the printing rotor is rotated 360 degrees, and a control apparatus for controlling the sheet feeding apparatus according to the set feeding control mode. The control apparatus is operable to execute a sheet feeding stop control processing of, when the second feeding control mode is set, controlling the sheet feeding apparatus such that the sheet feeding operation is stopped at least once after execution of the sheet feeding control processing.

A material processing system includes an oven that cooks or bakes, with electrical resistance, dough contained within containers. The oven can include a frame defining, devices mounted, in a preselected pattern, on the frame for a reciprocal movement in a vertical direction during use of the system, each device configured to connect voltage to a respective container so as to cook or bake the dough with the electrical resistance, and one or more powered members configured to move the devices in the vertical direction. Conveyors are also provided to convey a plurality of rows of containers with a plurality of containers in each row along a material conveyance path, the conveyors disposed in a series with each other and with the oven along the material conveyance path, one of the conveyors disposed within the oven so as to position a batch of the containers in an alignment with the devices.